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Age of Majority Law is 30

Change spelled doom of beer bars

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Thirty years ago, 18 year olds gained some unprecedented power.

In March of 1972, the law called the Age of Majority went into effect, giving 18 year olds throughout the United States the rights they would normally have to wait to obtain as 21 year olds.

In the midst of turmoil over the war in Vietnam, Congress had decided that if a person was old enough to die in service of his or her country, that person was old enough to vote and drink alcoholic beverages.

In Wisconsin, that meant 18 year olds could legally drink liquor and spelled the doom of beer bars, the favorite hangout of many teens, particularly college students.

Wisconsin, like a few other states, had permitted beer bars, bars that could only serve beer and malt beverages, outside most incorporated areas in the state.

That meant teen-agers had to travel to go to a place where other teens gathered.

For students at Central State Teachers College and Wisconsin State University-Stevens Point (now the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point), traveling to the bars was a little more difficult since few students had cars.

Among the students, the most popular bar was probably Little Joe's Drinking Establishment in Park Ridge, about where the Pioneer Bank, 31 Park Ridge Drive, is located today.

In the 1960s, the bar was so popular on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights that patrons often had to wait in line outside in order to get in.

Another popular spot for students was Rudy's, now Witz End on N. Second Drive in the town of Hull. Lines were also frequent on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Few of the bars offered entertainment other than a jukebox, but one that did was Fill's Bar, still at its same location, 3005 Patch St., Stevens Point, which was then in the town of Plover.

There were other bars close to Stevens Point, including Romie's Rendezvous (now the Final Score), 908 Maria Drive, which was in the town of Hull, and Morey's Bar, 3601 E. Maria Drive, town of Hull. Those places were particularly popular among the local crowd.

There were other bars that dotted the rural areas of the countryside.

Sharkey's Bar was located in a house off St. Casimir's Road in the town of Hull.

Virg 'n Mary's and Kaz's L Bar were along County Trunk Y north of Highway 66.

Then there was Vince's Bar and the Echo in the town of Carson and Kubisiak's Resort (now Rusty's) in the town of Linwood.

Tom and Mary Ann's in the town of Plover was probably the closest bar to Plover.

To the east in the Amherst area were Possum Hollar, the Last Straw (in an old barn), Boss Hogg's and the Junction Bar.

In the Rosholt area, teens went to the Flambeau Bar and the Wig Wam.

In the late 1960s, about 1966 or 1967, two new beer bars were constructed on North Reserve Drive in the town of Hull, a mile or so north of the campus. The Pour Haus and Brat Barn quickly became popular, but their popularity was short-lived.

The Pour Haus eventually became Lancers, and the Brat Barn became Red Lion, but both buildings closed in the 1970s as Sentry Insurance built its World Headquarters in the area.



	Age of Majority Law is 30 Change spelled doom of beer bars By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette Thirty years ago, 18 year olds gained some unprecedented power. In March of 1972, the law called the Age of Majority went into effect, giving 18 year olds throughout the United States the rights they would normally have to wait to obtain as 21 year olds. In the midst of turmoil over the war in Vietnam, Congress had decided that if a person was old enough to die in service of his or her country, that person was old enough to vote and drink alcoholic beverages. In Wisconsin, that meant 18 year olds could legally drink liquor and spelled the doom of beer bars, the favorite hangout of many teens, particularly college students. Wisconsin, like a few other states, had permitted beer bars, bars that could only serve beer and malt beverages, outside most incorporated areas in the state. That meant teen-agers had to travel to go to a place where other teens gathered. For students at Central State Teachers College and Wisconsin State University-Stevens Point (now the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point), traveling to the bars was a little more difficult since few students had cars. Among the students, the most popular bar was probably Little Joe's Drinking Establishment in Park Ridge, about where the Pioneer Bank, 31 Park Ridge Drive, is located today. In the 1960s, the bar was so popular on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights that patrons often had to wait in line outside in order to get in. Another popular spot for students was Rudy's, now Witz End on N. Second Drive in the town of Hull. Lines were also frequent on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Few of the bars offered entertainment other than a jukebox, but one that did was Fill's Bar, still at its same location, 3005 Patch St., Stevens Point, which was then in the town of Plover. There were other bars close to Stevens Point, including Romie's Rendezvous (now the Final Score), 908 Maria Drive, which was in the town of Hull, and Morey's Bar, 3601 E. Maria Drive, town of Hull. Those places were particularly popular among the local crowd. There were other bars that dotted the rural areas of the countryside. Sharkey's Bar was located in a house off St. Casimir's Road in the town of Hull. Virg 'n Mary's and Kaz's L Bar were along County Trunk Y north of Highway 66. Then there was Vince's Bar and the Echo in the town of Carson and Kubisiak's Resort (now Rusty's) in the town of Linwood. Tom and Mary Ann's in the town of Plover was probably the closest bar to Plover. To the east in the Amherst area were Possum Hollar, the Last Straw (in an old barn), Boss Hogg's and the Junction Bar. In the Rosholt area, teens went to the Flambeau Bar and the Wig Wam. In the late 1960s, about 1966 or 1967, two new beer bars were constructed on North Reserve Drive in the town of Hull, a mile or so north of the campus. The Pour Haus and Brat Barn quickly became popular, but their popularity was short-lived. The Pour Haus eventually became Lancers, and the Brat Barn became Red Lion, but both buildings closed in the 1970s as Sentry Insurance built its World Headquarters in the area.